Combined hydrogen and electricity production from aqueous ammonia feed

Abstract

A system and a method for producing hydrogen and electrical power from an aqueous ammonia solution are provided. An exemplary system includes a distillation unit to produce ammonia gas from the aqueous ammonia solution, a compression unit to boost the pressure of the ammonia gas, a membrane separator to catalytically convert the ammonia gas to nitrogen and hydrogen and remove the hydrogen as a permeate, and a micro turbine to combust a retentate to generate energy.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for producing hydrogen and electrical power from an aqueous ammonia solution, comprising:
 distilling the aqueous ammonia solution to produce ammonia gas and a waste stream; 
 compressing the ammonia gas; 
 converting the ammonia gas to nitrogen and the hydrogen; 
 separating the hydrogen in a membrane separator as a permeate; and 
 combusting a retentate in a micro turbine to generate the electrical power. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , comprising catalytically converting the ammonia gas to nitrogen and the hydrogen. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , comprising electrochemically converting the ammonia gas to nitrogen and the hydrogen. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , comprising raising the ammonia gas to an operating temperature for the membrane separator after compressing the ammonia gas. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , comprising providing heat from an exhaust of the micro turbine to a heat exchanger to heat the ammonia gas. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , comprising providing heat from an exhaust of the micro turbine to a boiler for distilling the aqueous ammonia solution. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , comprising providing the electrical power to operating units producing hydrogen and electrical power from the aqueous ammonia solution. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , comprising purifying the hydrogen to meet a fuel cell specification. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , comprising compressing the hydrogen for a refueling operation for a fuel cell electrical vehicle (FCEV). 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , comprising providing the electrical power to a charging station for an electrical vehicle (EV).